The Boogie Man

Sequel to Kittens Have Claws, Too. Victor, Katherine, Tayla and Mystique discover the secret to helping keep female ferals alive…But will nightmares be the setback for an old friend, or will her personal Boogie Man be the one to save her soul.

I DON'T own them…at this point I wish I did…I would put them all out to pasture and go on with my LIFE…SOMEONE get Victor Creed OUT of my head. Wait, never mind. (Victor muse purring in the background as he throws back the covers on the bed…) I am going to pet the kitty while you guys enjoy the story.

Chapter 11

He just stood there. She tried to push the panic away but she was sweating – she didn't know what he would do. She watched him like a cornered animal – waiting for any chance to bolt. Her eyes were darting from side to side – looking for some escape route.

He moved slightly drawing her attention to him. His head bowed and she could swear his shoulders were shaking. There was a sharp scent of salt in the air – salt and him – tears? Why was he crying? He'd won – she was here – trapped like an animal – easy prey – her own friends had trapped her for him. Her panic rose again as he moved, but he just sat in a chair against the wall.

"This isn't going to work." His words were soft in the stillness of the room.

She didn't say anything, just watched him warily.

"DAMN IT! WILL YOU QUIT?" He shouted. "I ain't goin ta hurt ya, damn it." His voice broke on the last word – almost a sob.

She waited – he wanted something – she just had to wait and find out what.

"What – what do you want?" He finally asked.

She looked at him, puzzled. He was the one with the upper hand – he was the alpha – why was he asking her what SHE wanted.

"Damn it, Tayla – what do you want from me?" Tayla – that was her – her reasoning self. She shook her head slowly.

"Why are you here?" She finally managed to get out – pushing the animal back – back into the corner of her mind.

"Creed dragged my ass out of bed – threatened ta drag me here naked if I didn't come willingly." He snarled.

"But why?" It didn't make sense. She'd been in bed yesterday – was it yesterday – she'd heard Rogue and Kitty and then everything went black – she couldn't remember ending up here – she thought it might be a room in the med lab.

"You were – I don't know – they said you needed me." He said softly – as if trying not to spook her.

"What?" What was he talking about?

"You don't remember?"

"Remember what?"

"That's great – I have no clue and you can't remember." He snapped. "Perfect – story of my fuckin life." He ran his hands through his hair – causing the points to stand up even more and she couldn't help it – she laughed. It started softly, and his sudden look of surprise with his hair sticking out like that just made her laugh harder.

"Perfect." He grumbled.

"You should look in a mirror." She managed to get out finally. He stood up and looked in the glass behind him – and started to chuckle.

"I see your point."

"I think they are yours."

"Did YOU just make a joke?" He looked at her in surprise again, a slight snarl on his face.

"I DO have a sense of humor." She said defensively – fear clenching her gut again.

"QUIT!" He ground out – trying not to raise his voice.

"Quit what?"

"Fear ain't helpin this."

"Well – I can't HELP it." She snapped back.

"Anger's good – I can deal with anger. Fear just makes me want to run my own claws through my gut."

"What?"

"I can't stand your fear, Darlin' it tears me up." He said softly.

"Don't call me that." She tried to control the panic – tried.

"What – Darlin'?" He asked.

"Anything – I can't deal with it."

"What the HELL am I supposed ta call ya – you're carrying my kid for Christ's sake." He ground out.

She could feel the panic building again.

"Is that what this is about – the baby?"

"No – yes – I don't know." He said, slamming himself down into the chair again, and running his hands through his hair – again.

"Is that a nervous habit or something?" She asked.

"What?" He looked up at, his face a study in frustrated puzzlement.

"Running your hands through your hair like that – is it a nervous habit?"

"Why the fuck do you care? You don't want anythin ta do with me – remember?" He was getting angry – and she could feel her panic rising again.

"I'm trying." She whispered.

"What?"

"I'm still alive – that means you want something – I'm trying to understand you – trying to understand why you didn't kill me – why you haven't killed me yet." She said it matter of factly – he shot up out of the chair and with a deep guttural roar planted his fist – claws out right through the door.

"I'VE! TOLD! YOU! I! AIN'T! GONNA! HURT! YOU!" He shouted, each word punctuated by another blow to the door. Her panic rose higher with each word – until she retreated back into the corner of her mind – and let the animal instincts take over.

He was pounding on the door – his alpha rage driving her to pure panic. There was no escape from the room – no escape from him. She didn't want to die – she had young to protect – she felt a deep primal growl build inside her throat – and with a roar of her own flung out her claws and launched herself through the air, claws digging in deep in the soft tissues of his lower back.

XXXXXXX

He roared in pain – what the FUCK!? He turned – she was snarling and growling, his blood dripping off of her claws as she retreated back – he could feel Wolverine snarling in the back of his mind – wanting to show her who was boss – but he forced the animal back. He had to try to reason with her – get her to calm down. She was in pure fight or flight panic mode – he could smell it. He had to calm her down – or subdue her – without hurting her or the baby. FUCK!

She lunged at him again – and he tried to catch her hands – instead he got a swipe across the face. He snarled – rage building. This wasn't good at all. He dropped into a crouch – and slowly retracted his claws – he wasn't going to hurt her – no matter how much she wanted to hurt him. He watched her closely – waiting for another lunge – and this time he managed to catch both of her hands and force them behind her back.

"Put the claws away!" He hissed against her face. Holding her hands against the small of her back forced her body against his chest – a position that was bringing even more dangerous instincts into the mix. She leaned in – and bit him hard on the jaw. He didn't let go, just shifted his control of her hands to one of his so he could force her face back away from him.

"TAYLA! Put the claws away – I am NOT going to HURT you." He said, pushing against her face, her body straining against his control. His body was reacting to her struggles and he knew she could feel it – that it was helping drive her panic even more – and then she stopped – her body went limp.

"Tayla! TAYLA!" He shouted. Her eyes had rolled back into her head – she'd passed out. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, carefully laying her down and arranging her hands so the claws didn't hurt her – he watched as they slowly slipped into her arms as her body relaxed. The door opened behind him.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HER?" Creed shouted his wife right behind him. She went straight to the bed, and started checking her friend's pulse.

"I DIDN'T do ANYTHING – She attacked ME!" He shouted back.

"Victor – GET OUT! You're not helping things." Katherine said sharply to her husband.

Creed snarled – but left the room.

"What happened – exactly?" Katherine said.

"I don't know we were talking – sorta – and she said something about my killing her – and I guess I lost it – started beating the hell out of the door." He pointed to the series of holes. "Next thing I know – her claws are in my back."

"Maybe you were right – we should have left her a bolt hole. Locking the door was a bad idea." Katherine said.

"Ya THINK!" He snarled at the woman.

"She had to have gone into full feral mode – she won't use her claws voluntarily." Katherine said.

"I would say so." He wiped the drying blood from his face.

"Did you accomplish ANYTHING?"

"She cracked a joke about my hair – does that count?"

"It's a start."

"Now what?"

"Now – we get her to calm down – and try again. You two have to get past this – she has to get past it – and we don't have a lot of time."

"What is it with you people and time schedules?"

He watched as Katherine bandaged Tayla's hands. That was when it hit him – her hands were still bleeding from the claws. She'd hurt herself – in a way her body couldn't heal quickly – to try to get away from him. He felt his own surge of panic.

"NONE of THAT!" Katherine said, glaring at him. "I don't need BOTH of you in full panic mode."

"She really hates me." He sat back down in the chair – and stopped himself from running his hands through his hair – she was right – it was a nervous habit.

"It's not hate – its fear." Katherine said, gently laying her friend's hand down on the bed.

"Same thing at this point – you hate what you fear – right?"

"Not always. She – Logan – I am worried. She's NEVER gone feral like that – EVER. And we've TRIED to get her to – just to show her it was alright – it was a part of her. She has to adapt to it – and to you – if she can't – I'm afraid we will lose her – and possibly the baby too." She sat down in the chair next to him, placing a hand gently on his arm.

"It's not your fault. None of this is – which is the really hard part – I know. You didn't do anything to cause this."

"Evidently I did. I just wish I could at least remember it – be able to talk to her about it – tell her my side."

"That might not be a bad idea." She brightened.

"But I can't – I've tried – I can't remember anything."

"Talk to Victor – he remembers the location – he got there not long after you left – saved Al's life – maybe he can tell you something you'll remember."

"Yeah – RIGHT – Me and Creed TALK – what universe are you livin in?" She laughed.

"The one where – he's my husband and I'll kick his ass if he doesn't talk to you." She grinned.

"I'd like ta see that."

"Well – he did teach me to fight – and to be able to take him – he said – and I quote 'I'm the badest sombiatch I know – if you can take me – I know you can take care of yourself.'" He laughed – and then thought about it. It made sense.

"I still don't see how talkin ta Creed will help."

"The only other option is to go talk to her father – and I doubt THAT would be a productive conversation." He grumbled.

"Go get some rest – and try talking to Victor – maybe he can jog your memory. I'll stay with her until she wakes up."

XXXXXXXXX

The Runt stepped out onto the porch. He wanted to rip him to shreds – but his Kitten had already told him if he did – he'd be sleeping on the couch – in the Rec room. Ripping the Runt to shreds wasn't worth the loss of his sex life – not by a long shot.

"So – what can you tell me about her father?" He asked.

"AL? Why the fuck do you want to know that?" He looked over at the smaller man.

"If I can remember – maybe I can get through – tell her my side of things." Logan said softly.

"Runt – if you think THAT will help – we are in worse trouble than I thought." He growled.

"She went full feral – tried ta kill me ta get away. I have to find SOME way ta get through – she just pushed all the right buttons – I lost it – then she lost it – I need a way ta reach her – if I can get through with the stuff about her father – if it opens a door – we can at least talk." Victor could smell the desperation – and fear – in him. He was afraid – afraid for Tayla – and THAT was a huge start.

"It was on an island in Indonesia – can't remember which one – there was a compound that was marked as belonging to Hydra – I never went inside – so I don't know for sure. I was trackin your ass – my annual 'fuck the Runt's world' week. I found this guy outside the fence – slashed all ta hell by your claws."

"Indonesia – huh? Compound ya say?" Vic watched him shake his head. He hoped there were a few memories being shaken loose – Tayla meant too much to him to let the Runt screw things up.

"Yea – Al said you'd been distracted by somethin – left him for dead and cut through the fence. I do remember the fence had Hydra markings on it – so did the uniform he was wearing. I know he was a freelancer though – he ended up workin for me – after I saved his butt." Vic grinned.

"I actually think I do remember. Hydra – SHIT! I do remember. I was workin for a group of parents – kids had been kidnapped for somethin - found out it was Hydra and a white slavery operation. I was there ta get the kids. There were four guys on the gate – all in Hydra uniforms. I took 'em out – was goin for the kill on the last one when I heard one of the kids scream – left him and took off after the kids – THAT was Tayla's dad SHIT!"

"Glad there are a few marbles left in that metal coated brain of yours – hell – that MIGHT actually get through to her – since you were there ta help kids." Hell – if he'd known – naa not back then – he'd have just left them. Saving Al's ass had been out of character enough back then.

"So – you saved his butt and he ended up workin for you – how?"

"I was doin some freelance stuff back then myself – mostly oil derricks – stuff like that. We'd go in for a company – take security – and sabotage the competition when we could. Al – good all around merc – was doin it ta support a wife – and then kid – at home. Worked for me for about ten years or so – before he left to go to college and go into law. Got himself elected as a judge. Dave – that's Kitten's dad – he was my explosives expert – ended up starting his own demolitions company. Greg – he was our mechanic – owns a chain of car dealerships in the mountain states."

"Well – it sounds like he landed on his feet anyway – got away from Hydra and that mess."

"Yeah – never did like them much." They both stood there, smoking their cigars.

"This is weird." Logan said finally

"What?"

"Standin here talkin – not tryin ta kill each other."

"Naa – we've done it before – worked together before. Just don't get used ta it, soon as Kitten cuts me loose – your ass is mine."

"Yeah – Creed you are one WHIPPED son of a bitch." Logan laughed. Victor growled – and then thought about his Kitten – and grinned – whipped and proud of it – shit. Logan just shook his head and stubbed out his cigar.

"Just wait till Tayla comes around – we'll see who's whipped then." He said as Logan headed into the mansion. He heard the low growl behind him. Logan had NO clue what he was in for – Kitten had been a kid – more adaptable to him and his ways – Tayla was a grown woman with ideas of her own – it wasn't going to be an easy ride – and he wanted to stick around for the fireworks.

XXXXXXXX

She sat watching Tayla sleep. She hoped Victor remembered what she said about sleeping on the couch. She meant it – this time. If he hurt Logan – messed things up for Tay – she'd make him sleep on the couch for a decade – ok maybe a week – she shuddered – the idea of her Tom Cat not being in bed with her nearly made her sick. Well – he didn't have to know that.

Tayla stirred.

"Hey sleepyhead – real way to win a guy over there – cut his face to ribbons." Kat said as Tay woke up.

"Is he gone?"

"For now – he went to get some rest – seems he hasn't been sleeping well."

"God – my head's clear – for the first time in a while. WHAT the hell is going on?"

"It's the bond – there are side effects we didn't know about – because none of the girls have tried to fight it before. Remember what we were talking about – before we left – about the reaction I have when Vic's away?"

"Yeah?"

"Well – Professor Xavier and Hank and I have been looking into it – while you were locked in your room – and it seems that the marks – the scars our bodies produce – are an external manifestation of a deeper link between mates than we thought. It's like a rough – instinctive empathic bond – little to no control – just raw emotion – and that gets filtered through our own perceptions – mine ends up as that pain in the gut and a craving for chocolate."

"That's just an excuse – you and your chocolate."

"Hey – I NEVER ate chocolate before Vic and I were mated."

"Okay – so this bond – it makes you what – feel what the mate is feeling?"

"Sort of – more like a snapshot – it lets you know if they are hurt, or upset, or in cycle – for the males – nothing complicated like what they are thinking. It's very basic and animal – part of the feral side."

"So – what I've been feeling – it's partly HIM!?"

"Well – we aren't sure – we think it's more like a whirlpool – you are both on opposite sides – and spiraling down – with a mix of your own emotions reinforced by what the other one is feeling."

"Then why is my head CLEAR? With him here – I should be freaking out?"

"Physical proximity – and contact – helps balance. Some of the girls reported similar situations during the relocation – so did some of the guys for that matter. By the way Mort's here for that sample you said you needed."

"Good – he may have to wait – but the little girl DHS sent over has amphibian characteristics – I want to check him against her – she's only five – but if he can be patient…"

"Tay – work can wait – we need to get you and Logan settled."

"That isn't going to happen. I can't be in the same room with him without freaking out – I tried to KILL him! GOD! Kat – I tried to kill HIM." Kat watched the panic build.

"Tayla – he didn't hurt you – just restrained you – held you until we could get to you. He put his claws away – and I know he was using them on the door. He won't hurt you."

"That was before I used my claws on him – before I – Kat if he'd been anyone else – he'd be dead."

"GOD! Tay if I worried about that – Victor and I would never fight. HELL – the worst time I ever had was when I kicked him in the groin so hard we couldn't have sex for a week."

"I did NOT need to hear that. Besides this is WOLVERINE we are talking about not your Tom Cat."

"No – this is Logan you're talkin about." Said a voice from the door.

"Rogue – please – you aren't helping." Kat said sharply.

"Let me try. Tayla – Ah'm sorry – you shouldn't have heard what I was sayin' and Ah was wrong. Storm and Kat have kinda straightened me out on a few things and – well HELL – if Ah'd been in your shoes and it'd been SABRETOOTH – Ah'da KILLED his ass."

Kat raised an eyebrow at the southern girl.

"Hey – he kidnapped me – manhandled me inta a machine – and nearly killed me and my friends – Ah got a bit of a grudge against your 'Tom Cat.' Besides – Ah can understand Tayla a bit better now."

"Thank you." Tayla said softly.

"You need ta hear some things that ain't bad. Your daddy filled your head with shit – maybe WE need ta fill it with the stuff WE know."

"Like what?" Tayla actually looked like she was actually willing to listen.

"Well like - that Logan would die for any of these kids – or any kid for that matter. Ah was a runaway – he was cage fightin in Canada when I snuck inta his trailer – he coulda left me on the side of the road – but he didn't – Sabretooth attacked us on the road – nearly killed Logan who was only tryin ta protect me. We ended up here – and he ended up riskin his life several times ta save my butt – Ah nearly killed him twice myself – once when I woke him from a nightmare – and once when Ah died on the top of the Statue of Liberty – and he let me absorb him ta save my life. He was out for two whole weeks after that – Ah thought I'd killed him." Tayla just sat there – listening to what the girl – no woman – had to say.

"When Stryker and his men attacked the mansion – he risked everythin ta save the kids – get them out – and then went after Stryker to rescue the ones he did manage ta take. After Jean died – I was sure he'd take off again – but he didn't he stayed – Ah think it was because he didn't trust anyone else ta protect us. He'll let Jubilee practice her fireworks on him – and just shrug when she gets too close – smells like burned dog hair sometimes. He's one of the few who ain't afraid ta touch me – with my skin – that's a big thing. He even held me while Jubes and Kitty gave me hell after Bobby – wouldn't let me leave until Ah worked things out with my friends."

Kat was watching Tayla's face, worried. She'd gone distant – Kat could tell she was thinking – and wasn't sure it was a good thing.

"He's like everyone's big brother – anyone can get him ta listen – and he does – and when he says somethin – it makes sense. He's been hurt – more than anyone I know – but the only person who ever suffers for it is him. He don't take it out on anyone else. He'd never hurt anyone – unless they hurt someone he cared about first – then all bets are off. I've seen him kill – he's clean – quick – don't make 'em suffer – unless they really deserve it – and then he's merciless." Kat didn't like where this was going – but Tayla seemed to be listening – really listening.

"He had to have had a reason – he wouldn't have hurt my father without a reason – I think I have always known that – but now I think I understand. I need to know what happened – and the only person who knows the whole thing can't remember it." Tayla said quietly.

Kat was stunned. Where was the clawing – screaming – keep that bastard away from me – Tayla? "I sent him to talk to Vic – maybe he can jog his memory – maybe he can remember why he was there. Will that make a difference, Tay – really?"

"Intellectually – yes – if I know he had a reason – know it wasn't just random violence – know he isn't the monster I'm used to hearing about – then I will at least be able to try to deal with the fear – I don't know how – but I will be able to TRY." She said softly. "I've been trying to understand it for years – it never fit anything I heard from any source from my father – even Victor made sure I knew Wolverine had to have a reason for violence."

"Well – your father needs ta be taken out and shot – that's abuse – pure and simple." Rogue said hotly. Kat had to agree with her. "He used fear – and fear of somethin that you couldn't control – ta control you. That just ain't right."

"Tell me you didn't have a monster under the bed – or a Boogie Man when you were growing up." Tayla dared the young woman.

"Actually – it was a swamp rat – stay close ta home or the swamp rats would get me – Ah see your point – and now that ya mention it – Ah'm datin' a swamp rat." All three of them laughed.

"I can't promise not to be afraid. I can't promise not to panic when ever he comes near. It's too ingrained – too deep – too instinctive. I can try. I can handle him in small doses – preferably with other people around – It's not great – but I think I can do that much." Tayla said finally. Kat smiled – it was a start – and a huge step from where she was at the compound.

"What about the baby, Tay?" Kat asked.

"I have time to deal with that. I don't know how things will work out – but it's his baby too – and I won't keep him away from it – not because of my fear. I don't want him resenting me or the baby because of my fear."

"I won't." Kat jumped at the sound of his voice – it was rough. She didn't even know how long he'd been standing there. Tayla looked at him, and Kat could smell the fear rising – but she got control quickly – and kept it manageable.

"I take it you intend to have it – then?" He asked.

"Of course." Kat was surprised at the wave of relief that washed over him at Tayla's simple statement.

"Thank you." He whispered.

Tayla just nodded, and he turned and walked down the hall. Kat wasn't completely sure what had just happened – but something had.

XXXXXXXX

The baby was safe – she was safe – and not as afraid. He didn't know why – but she seemed better. He needed to give her time – she was breeding – females were strange when they were breeding. She was here – the place he called home – she was safe – she was alive – and she was close. He could work on the rest. She was his mate – and sooner or later – she'd adjust to the idea.